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Drug and alcohol tests of graduate paramedics revealed in Ambulance Victoria data breach – Source: www.theguardian.com

drug-and-alcohol-tests-of-graduate-paramedics-revealed-in-ambulance-victoria-data-breach-–-source:-wwwtheguardian.com
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Source: www.theguardian.com – Author: Nino Bucci

The confidential drug and alcohol test results of graduate paramedics were available for every Ambulance Victoria staff member to view under a significant breach that is set to be reported to the state’s privacy watchdog.

According to an email sent late Thursday to members of the Victorian Ambulance Union, confidential spreadsheets relating to pre-employment testing of graduate paramedics in 2017 and 2018 were available on the staff intranet until the union alerted Ambulance Victoria to the problem.

In the member email, the union said the private information included the full names of graduate paramedics, when they were tested, whether the result was positive or negative, and, if positive, the substance that had been detected.

The union said it had written to Ambulance Victoria urging it to contact any affected employee including past employees about the breach, conduct an audit to determine who had accessed the files, and immediately cease all alcohol and drug screening until it could be confident the issue had been rectified.

It also said it had told Ambulance Victoria to report the breach to the Office of the Victorian Information Commissioner and other relevant authorities.

The union said it would also report the breach to the watchdog on behalf of its members, and was exploring possible legal action.

According to the email, signed by the union’s general secretary, Danny Hill, and the assistant secretary, Olga Bartasek, the union had also requested an urgent meeting with Ambulance Victoria to discuss the breach.

“This will be extremely stressful to anyone affected. Members are invited to make contact with the VAU to seek support and advice if you are advised that you are involved in this breach,” the email said.

“This is one of the biggest examples of organisational incompetence we have ever seen in AV. Employees deserve to have the highest confidence in the ability of their employer to protect their confidential information.

“AV have dismally failed this test today and will have to work very hard to regain the trust of the workforce in relation to private employee information.”

An Ambulance Victoria spokesperson said it had been made aware that documents containing personal information of some employees and prospective employees have been inadvertently accessible on its intranet.

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The information contained in the documents refers to data captured between May 2017 and October 2018, they said.

“Since becoming aware, AV has removed access to these documents and has undertaken an access audit of these documents.

“The documents were not directly accessible to anyone outside of the organisation.

“We take privacy very seriously and acknowledge the distress that this may cause. Those affected are being notified and will be provided wellbeing support.”

The spokesperson did not comment on when it became aware of the breach, how long the data had been made available for, and how many people were impacted.

They said Ambulance Victoria would “fulfil all reporting requirements” to the OVIC.

Original Post URL: https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/may/11/ambulance-victoria-data-breach-reveals-drug-and-alcohol-tests-of-graduate-paramedics

Category & Tags: Victoria,Data and computer security,Health,Privacy,Emergency services,Australia news,Data protection,Australian trade unions – Victoria,Data and computer security,Health,Privacy,Emergency services,Australia news,Data protection,Australian trade unions

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